THE BEER NUT: Timberyard Brewing taproom opens in East Brookfield

Wednesday

Timberyard Brewing Company of East Brookfield has opened its doors to its family friendly taproom.

EAST BROOKFIELD – Matt Zarif wants the new Timberyard Brewing Company to be more than just a taproom.

The co-founder and head brewer of the brewery wants it to be a community center, a place where families can come together and have a good time.

“We’re trying to focus on, in addition to beer of course, local musicians, local bands and local artists,” said Zarif, a former co-owner of Stone Cow Brewery in Barre. “We want to place to share art, music and beer. We’re keeping it family friendly. We have a small kitchen. We have goals to build an outdoor space.”

Zarif founded the brewery with his childhood friend T.J. O’Connor. Tom Sutter, co-owner of Medusa Brewing Company in Hudson, is an adviser and investor.

The brewery itself is a family effort. Zarif handles the brewing. His wife, Nelly, painted the exterior of the building. O’Connor’s sister Kate Ohaneisian is the taproom manager, while her husband, Marcus Ohaneisian, is the marketing manager. Sutter’s brother Joe Sutter is the facilities manager.

The brewery, located at 555 East Main St., is in the former Howe Lumber, and was made with as much reclaimed wood and other items as possible. The bar, for example, is a former bowling alley from 1935, and they used an old garage door from a firehouse for a window. The post and beams came from another lumber company and had been in storage for years.

A 1951 Chevy pickup truck has been converted into a stage for musicians.

“All of the reclaimed items really add character,” Zarif said.

Currently the food menu is small. They have cheese plates, pretzels, pickles and other snacks. The pickles, in particular, were popular last weekend, the brewery’s opening weekend. They offer various pickles brined with various hops.

“Our chef is really doing some interesting things with pickles,” said Zarif. “Each one is pickled with hops – the Citra pickle really tastes like Citra. The hops really come through.”

Timberyard opened with four beers on tap: Lazy Lightning, a session IPA; Wolf Tree Stout, brewed with 50 pounds of cacao nibs and “lots” of vanilla beans; House Pale Ale; and Rough Cut 1, a New England-style IPA, the first in a series of experimental IPAs.

Zarif said he plans to brew some sour beers and hopes to start a barrel program. He also wants to work with local farmers to use locally grown ingredients, and possibly start a farm and beer share where people could come to the brewery and pick up a box of local meat, local veggies and Timberyard beer.

They also hope to set up a winter farmers market in the 3,500-square-foot taproom.

Along with beer, Timberyard also wants to make other items, such as kombucha teas, sodas and seltzers.

The goal is to eventually have a combination of 20 beers and non-alcoholic beverages on tap, Zarif said.

Beers will be available on draft and to go in 750 ml growlers, but Zarif said Timberyard should be canning its beers by the end of the year.

“We want to make it a place everyone feels comfortable to come, whether you’re a beer geek or someone who thinks they only like Budweiser so we can show you some other things,” Zarif said.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For beer news and info, follow Norman Miller on Twitter and Instagram @RealBeerNut or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerBeerNut.